Please permit me space in your widely read medium to air my modest view on the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Union of Nigerian Universities. ASUU’s reason for embarking on this industrial action stems from the poor implementation of the 2009 agreement entered into between it and the federal government. Its contention is that government has abandoned salient clauses in the said agreement. Therefore paralyzing academic activities in our Ivory Towers becomes a suitable means of drawing government’s attention to those salient clauses.
That the Nigerian educational system has been in shambles is no longer new. All levels in our educational system lay in a decrepit state. A visit to some of our schools especially our universities, reveals the decrepit state of our education. What you will find are old dilapidated structures, poor lecture theaters, poor or a complete absence of laboratories for research purpose, obsolete books in the libraries and inadequate accommodation space for our increasing number of students. There is indeed no gain saying that our educational system yearns for urgent reforms.
This unfortunate state of our universities raises a lot of question about government’s readiness and commitment to the educational sector. Why has government allowed our educational sector to degenerate to this level, is education less important that government will relegate it to the background, where was government while our educational system continued to plunge into total collapse and what benefit will the country from frequent disruption in the academic calendar of universities? Are the emoluments of politicians more important than the future of a country? The noise I am used to hearing when a particular matter affects the welfare of our politicians seems to have abated now that it affects our education.
These strikes have no mean effect on our youths, majority of who are students. A lot of them have been made to put in longer years more than required for their course of study. They become frustrated and tired with the entire system. Need I remind us that when frustration creeps into the mind, revolt against the system begins to receive attention? And we all know the effects of such revolts, which I will not mention here. It is common knowledge that no nation progresses without a solid educational system. Government must therefore pay maximum attention to this sector. Our dream of becoming a top economy in the future will remain only a dream unless there is a significant channeling of resources into the sectors that will lead us there. And education is one of them. I expect government to at least dedicate 30% of her budget to education.
To members of ASUU, I salute your courage and determination towards ensuring that our universities are reformed to international standards. But you must also note that your fight is not a personal one. It is for the future of the country and our youths your students. Their lives have not being helped in positive any way by these strike actions. For instance, ASUU has embarked on strike for the same issue since 2008. I want to ask on behalf of our students, is there no better option to strike? ASUU should in my view appraise other options because strike does not seem a have an effect on government’s recalcitrance. God bless Nigeria.
Frank O. ijege
8 Madaki Crescent, Narayi Kaduna
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